“Google has teamed up with LG in a Nexus-style partnership to produce the first devices powered by Android Wear 2.0: the LG Watch Sport and LG Watch Style,” Evan Blass reports for VentureBeat.

“The two companies will unveil these smartwatches on February 9 — at an event for the platform’s official launch — and begin selling them in the U.S. the next day, according to marketing material shared with VentureBeat,” Blass reports. “The rollout will continue to other regions through February and March, with the watches given prominent placement at LG’s booth at Mobile World Congress, which starts on February 27 in Barcelona.”

“Along with iOS compatibility, the two watches also share another commonality with the Apple Watch: a digital crown button that serves to facilitate navigation,” Blass reports. “The displays are touch sensitive as well, and boast handwriting recognition.”

Though it is called a “digital crown”, it appears to lack ‘notches’ for grip and really looks more like just a push button. It might not be used in the same way as Apple’s version. No actual usage reviews out yet but I suspect it might be a small push-capable touch surface rather than a dial.

Why are Apple’s patents not useful in regards to copying? What’s the point if anyone can use them? Licensing fees?

I’m guessing the patent was too generic and had plenty of loopholes for other people to rip off. I’m surprised other companies would copy Apple’s DC design. I’ve heard so many people saying AppleWatch’s Digital Crown design sucked and that the current Android smartwatches selector ring was a much better design due to it being larger in size. Whatever Apple does always seems to be easily imitated by others. Back when the first AppleWatch and the Digital Crown was introduced, it was said that Samsung was going to eventually rip it off. Why not? Apple has become a pushover as a company.

Google’s wearables will fail to even to make a dent in Apple’s market share in wearables. In the same way that I knew from day one that Apple’s watch would not be a big seller relative to iPhones, I can tell you that Google’s will do worse. A certain kind of person wants a smart watch. They are typically smarter, better educated, often health fanatics, fashion conscious, more wealthy, and are all to aware of why they are buying deeper into Apple’s consumer infotainment ecosystem. They are professionals who are actually busy enough to care about the seconds that wrist notifications save throughout the day.

Those people don’t buy Android. Apple controls the top tier mobile customer, and even Apple has only so many of these top tier Apple customers.

I just upgraded to the Series 2 Apple Watch and I love it. The software runs much better on the new device. Its better and easier to use. Hey Siri works great now. Its a much better package and its waterproof! So happy!